Matt Claman plans to vote for AG Cox, despite conflicts of interest

Anchorage Sen. Matt Claman, who still claims to be running for governor, long blocked legislative attempts to close the Hilcorp loophole, offering a wide variety of lame excuses.

Claman has also blocked plans to raise the age of consent from 16 to 18, offering excuses.

On Thursday, it appears he will vote to confirm Temporary Attorney General Stephen Cox, despite Cox’s shortcomings. I’m sure Claman will have an excuse or two.

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Will Trump now claim China will pay for Alaska LNG project?

Don’t be surprised if President Donald Trump begins claiming again that China might pay for the Golden Age of Alaska LNG project.

That doesn’t mean it will happen. It will be like the imaginary Trump phone, the Trump health care plan and the Trump golf championships.

Over the past year-and-a-half Trump and his supplicants have falsely claimed that Japan and Korea would provide the money to build the pipeline.

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North Slope maps plan for largest natural gas power plant in the world

The North Slope Borough is planning with private operators to create the world’s largest natural gas power plant near Prudhoe Bay, which would generate electricity for industry, data centers and potentially a power line to the Railbelt.

Borough Mayor Josh Patkotak and three officials from Twenty First Century Utilities gave a presentation on this massive project at CERA Week in March in Texas.

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AIDEA to spend $190 million on ANWR with no public review or public hearing

The rubber-stamp board of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority is likely to vote Wednesday to approve a $190 million ANWR spending plan that was posted on the state public notice website Sunday.

There is nothing on the AIDEA website that explains the $190 million spending plan and nothing that explains how and when to testify. There is nothing that justifies AIDEA’s secret decision to bid on more tracts in ANWR in the current lease sale aimed at the private sector.

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House Republicans pitch new Hilcorp gas subsidy to 'save Anchorage'

Hilcorp, owned by Texas billionaire Jeff Hildebrand, could qualify for a new state subsidy for gas drilling in Cook Inlet potentially worth $30 million to $50 million under a plan approved by the House Finance Committee Wednesday,

Fairbanks Rep. Will Stapp said his proposed reduction in the state’s royalty share from natural gas leases was the “Save Anchorage” or “Save Southcentral” amendment.

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